Ready for Putin’s invasion? A battery of Spanish air defense systems was deployed in Latvia (photo)

Spain has deployed a battery of NASAMS anti-aircraft missile systems in Latvia. This step was taken as part of NATO’s increased presence in the Baltic region.

This is stated in message National Armed Forces of Latvia.

The air defense system was placed today, June 26. The reason for this in Latvia was called “the need to strengthen the defense capability of the Baltic region after the Russian invasion of Ukraine”.

NASAMS was deployed at the US Air Force Base in Lielvarde.

NASAMS complexes in Latvia. Photo: NBS

What is known about the NASAMS air defense system

According to Military, the NASAMS system is produced by a consortium of the American corporation Raytheon Technologies and the Norwegian group Kongsberg. The complex includes launchers, radar stations (radar) Raytheon AN / MPQ-64F1 Sentinel from a consortium of Raytheon and Kongsberg.

Each mobile launcher has six medium-range air-to-air missile pods. The firing range of the anti-aircraft system in the NASAMS II configuration using AIM-120С AMRAAM missiles is up to 25 km, and the reach in height is up to 14-15 km.

At the end of May, Spain announced its intention to deploy an air defense system to protect against a possible air attack from the Russian Federation.

The placement of the NASAMS SAM battery means that Spain’s contingent in the Baltics will increase by 90-100 people. Prior to this, about 500 Spanish troops were already under Canadian command at the Adazi base in Latvia, 120 km from the Russian border.

As you know, a diplomatic row broke out between Moscow and Vilnius because of the ban on the transit of Russian cargo through the territory of Lithuania. The Segodnya website explained whether this conflict could escalate into a war.

Earlier we wrote that in Russia, State Duma deputy Yevgeny Fedorov proposed to withdraw recognition of the independence of Ukraine, Estonia and Latvia.